Means to assist tuning pneumatically-operated musical instruments.



G. K. HENNIG.

MEANS To ASSIST TUNING PNEUMATIGALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. 1911.

1,038,581, Patented Sept. 17, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. K. HENNIG.

MEANS TO ASSIST TUNING PNEUMATIOALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED n.1, 1911.

1,038,581. Patented Sept. 17, 1912 2 sums-sum z.

Ql-Q BlA PLAbfOORAPH CO.,WASH]NGTON. D- e.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV KARL HENNIG, ,OF WAHREN, NEAR LEIPZIG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T0LUDWIG HUPFELD AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF LEIPZIG, GERMANY.

MEANS TO ASSIST TUNING PNEUMATICALLY-OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern Be it kn own that I Gustav IIARL IIENNIG, asubject of the King of Saxony, residing at VVahren, near Leipzig,Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means toAssist Tuning Pneumatically- Operated h lusical Instruments; and I. dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to devices to assist the tuning automaticallyplayed musical instruments especially such instruments as employ intheir structure vibrating strings either bowed or struck to set them invibration. To this end my improvement is so made that the string to betuned. is sounded simultaneously with the same note of another musicaldevice, be it piano string, reed or pipe whose tone is less subject toalteration, by means of a valve device an electric contact mechanism orthe like. In this manner the strings of the violin type instruments maybe accurately tuned to the same note of other types of instrument whosetone is more stable, for example a piano string, a reed or a pipe. Thismechanism can be so constructed that the two tones of different timbreto be compared are sounded simultaneously or successively, or the moresustained or standard tone be produced ahead of the one of shorterduration to be tuned thereto. Or it may be that one tone may be repeatedindependently of the other sustained tone.

In illustrating my invention I have chosen to show it as applied topneumatically actuated automatic players, as most such players are nowso operated. In such pneumatic instruments the sounding of a note iscustomarily effected by setting free an opening in the tracker be by themusic sheet to admit atmospheric air to the valve that controls theoperating pneumatic for the string, reed or pipe.

Referring to the drawings in which like parts are similarly designated:Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a port block and keyfor simultaneously sounding two like notes to be compared. The figureSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 1, 1911.

Patented Sept. 17, 1912.

Serial No. 618,413.

shows further the general arrangement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of alike block showing means for independently sounding the two comparisontones. Fig. 3 is a view similar to F 2 showing how the sustained tonemay be sounded sli htly in advance for the tone of shorter duration.Fig. 4 is a port block similar to Fig. 1 electromagnetically controlled.Fig. 4 is port block similar to Fig. 2 electromagnetically controlled.Fig. 5 shows two like tones sounded from the note sheet.

In Fig. 1, the tuning mechanism comprises a port block 2 from which anair conduit Z) leads to the actuating device, valve or pneumatic of thestandard tone, as a piano string, which may be substituted by a reed orpipe and to which the string of a violin is to be tuned. I A similarconduit a leads to the mechanism for sounding the string to be tuned.These two conduits are connected to the ports 5 and a respectively ofthe port lock 2 which ports are simultaneously controlled by hinged orflap valve 0 urged to closed position by a spring 3. A key (Z whose pinD passes through the block 2 serves to depress the spring urged valve 0and vent the ports to the atmosphere. The two notes being sounded thestring is tuned by means of its pertaining key, tuning pin or theequivalent.

In lieu of the key (Z, a lever or electromagnet may be used foroperating the valve.

The note sheet itself may be used to effect the simultaneous sounding ofpairs of like tones to which end the note sheet is provided either aheadof or at the end of a piece to be played with pairs of openings forsounding the tones to be compared.

In electrically played instruments a pair of contacts or the like isused in order to sound both tones simultaneously, Fig. 4

The tuning is facilitated when one or both tones may be stopped orproduced at will, for example when one is sustained and the otherrepeated, for example repeat the violin tone while sustaining the samepiano tone. Fig. 2 shows means for doing this where each part a, b, of apair of ports is controlled by separate valves 6 and c actuated byseparate keys (1 and 6Z2 so that the valves may be simultaneously orindependently operated.

In Fig. 3, I have shown the key (Z for the sustained comparison orstandard tone overlapping and somewhat longer than the one (i so thatthe sustained tone, as piano tone, will be sounded in advance of the oneto be tuned or violin tone and yet each can be independently operated.

"When the mechanism is to be electrically operated, a contact (Z isdepressed to close a circuit of a battery B through an electromagnet fwhose arn'iature is secured to the valve 6 controlling the ports in theport block.

Fig. 5 illustrates a portion of a note sheet 9 having a pair ofperforations h, h venting two conduits m and a connected to the trackerbar 0 at one end and sounding devices or the equivalent at the other endof two iike tones.

I claim:

1. A musical instrument comprising two independent sets of soundingbodies, pneumatic playing mechanism for causing the each port of a pairhaving pneumatic con-' nection with the pneumatic playing mechanlsm of asounding body 111 a set, and

means to control said pairs of ports to cause two of said bodies, one ineach set, to sound together for the purpose of tuning.

2. A musical instrument comprising two independent sets of soundingbodies, playing means for causing the sounding of said bodies at willand under all usual conditions of playing of said instrument; incoinbination with a port block having ports therein arranged in pairs,one port of a pair having operative pneumatic connection with saidplaying means for a body of one set and the other port having operativepneumatic connection with the playing means for a body of the other set,and means for simultaneously opening the ports of a pair.

3. A musical instrument comprising two independent sets of soundingbodies, playing means for causing the sounding of said bodies at willand under all usual conditions of playing of said instrument; incombination with a port block having ports therein arranged in pairs,one port of a pair having operative pneumatic connection with saidplaying means for a body of one set and the other port having operativepneumatic connection with the playing means for a body of the other set,and means for simultaneously or independently opening the ports of apair.

4. A musical instrument comprising two independent sets of soundingbodies, playing means for causing the sounding of said bodies at willand under all usual conditions of playing of said instrument; incombination with a port block having ports therein arranged in pairs,one port of a pair being behind the other port of said pair and eachport having operative pneumatic connection with the playing means of abody of a set,

a valve controlling each port, a key for operating each valve, the keyof one valve overlapping the key of the other valve, whereby said bodiesmay be caused to sound simultaneously or independently and the standardtone be sounded in advance of a similar tone to be tuned thereto.

5. A musical instrument comprising two independent sets of soundlngbodies and means for causing the sounding of said bodies at will underall usual conditions of playing of said instrument; in combination withmeans additional to the aforesaid means and operable independentlythereof for causing the sounding of a single body of each set to assistthe tuning of one of said bodies with respect to the other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 have signedmy name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV KARL HlCNNiG.

Witnesses EMIL GENDFUER, RUDOLPH FRICKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D G.

